Golden Eagles start up conference play with weekend series against Jacksonville

Mar 31, 2011

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With 22 games under their belt this
season, the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech will open up conference
play this weekend hosting a huge Ohio Valley Conference rival in
the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, beginning with Saturday’s
double-header event starting at 1 p.m.

Tech’s 2010 season ended at the hands of the Gamecocks in
the OVC Tournament in Jackson, Tenn., when JSU twice defeated the
Golden Eagles in the double elimination tournament by scores of 9-7
and 10-8 to earn the post-season championship title and the chance
to continue their season in the regional tournament.

This year, Tech will be looking to avenge the post-season losses
from last year and stretch their lead on the 19-16 lifetime series
over the Gamecocks.

The Golden Eagles are still led at the plate by freshman Zach
Stephens with a .363 average and a slugging percentage over .600.
Stephens has notched 33 hits on the season, including five long
balls and eight doubles for 27 RBI to lead the team in all three
categories. Tech has three other members of the lineup batting over
.300 in sophomore standouts Evan Frazier (.347) and Zephan Guyear
(.310) and senior returnee Casanova Donaldson (.311).

Standing in their way, however, will be a JSU pitching staff
consisting of three rightys - a freshman newcomer to the weekend
rotation in Bradley Raulston and two returning starters in Aaron
Elias and Jordan Beistline. Raulston (2-0, 3.21 ERA) has pitched 14
innings for the Gamecocks in five total appearances and will take
the hill first in game one, having allowed six runs on 14 hits and
striking out seven on the year.

A junior out of Covina, California, Elias maintains a 2.57 ERA
in 35 innings pitched, the most of the Gamecock bullpen thus far
this season. He has surrendered 15 runs on 27 hits and leads the
team in strikeouts with 28. In five games started, six appearances
in all, Elias has amassed a 3-1 record on the mound.

Beistline will cap off the weekend for JSU with his perfect 3-0
record and 1.42 ERA in 25.1 innings of work. He has accumulated 11
Ks so far this season and allowed just four earned runs on 22
hits.

Jacksonville State’s line-up consists of seven hitters
sitting at .300 or above, six of which return from last
season’s roster. Junior Ben Waldrip leads the Gamecocks with
a .413 in 75 at-bats, having logged 31 hits and 17 RBI. Sam Eberle,
another junior out of Chattanooga, has a .355 average and leads the
team in at-bats with 107 and RBI with 29 on 38 hits.

TTU will turn to regular weekend starter Matt Shepherd in game
two of the series, while lefty Chad Oberacker will handle game
three for the Golden Eagles. Shepherd leads Tech in innings pitched
with 36.1 and has a 2-3 record having allowed 33 hits on the season
and striking out 34.

Oberacker, who recently broke Tech’s school record for
all-time career hits, has been contributing regularly on the mound
this season and currently maintains a 3.29 ERA. He has made three
starts this season and six appearances for a total of 27.1 innings
pitched. He’s given up 14 runs on 26 hits and has recorded 27
Ks on the season.

The starter for game one for Tech has yet to be determined.

The Golden Eagle baseball program will host Greek Day on
Saturday and welcome Tech Hall-of-Famer Mark Mayberry to throw out
the ceremonial first pitch of the game. Student organizations are
encouraged to come out and show their Tech pride, with a $250 prize
on the line for the largest organization present.

Tech will be capping off the weekend with Sunday’s 1 p.m.
finale and the program will be hosting Faith Day, which will award
the first 300 fans present with church bulletins a free hot dog
from the TTU concession stand.

For more information about either of these events, please
contact Justin Hogan at 931-372-3853 or Donnie Suttles at
931-372-6546.

Fans who can’t make it out to Bush Stadium for this
weekend’s series can follow the LiveStats here.